Letters: Car cure

We were intrigued by the article in Feedback (29 May) reporting that the Electrolux company was to enter the baby soothing market. Many of your readers will be aware that white noise such as that from a vacuum cleaner can help to calm babies (presumably the origin of the hush sound which is used in many cultures). Other electrical appliances such as hair dryers are, in our experience, equally effective.

This noise may be similar to the sounds experienced by the fetus while in the womb, possibly emanating from the major blood vessels in the maternal abdomen. The calming effect may also be enhanced by adding low frequency, rumbling sounds such as those produced by the maternal digestive system. In the infant sleep laboratory attached to our nursery we are currently using, with some degree of success, a tape combining the two elements in an effort to induce sleep in ...

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